One of the UK and Europe’s leading energy providers has garnered support from Coventry and Warwickshire businesses after claiming partnerships with local firms are key to the region achieving its net zero goals.
Julie Walden, partnership lead at E.ON UK, called on delegates at the latest Coventry & Warwickshire Champions meeting to work closely with the energy retailer to introduce more low carbon solutions to workplaces and public spaces as part of its pioneering 15-year Strategic Energy Partnership with Coventry City Council.
“All sectors have a role to play in the transition to net zero. The Strategic Energy Partnership between E.ON and Coventry City Council is a vehicle to help drive this and achieve energy transformation at a city scale. The partnership is the first of its kind in the UK and other cities are watching and paying attention,” Julie told more than 150 business leaders at Coventry University’s Square One Entertainment Venue, with the city’s approach to energy already inspiring similar approaches across the country.
Julie said: “Coventry is championing decarbonising and reaching zero emissions and is very much a hub of innovation to contribute towards the UK’s energy transformation.
“Energy solutions need to be affordable, reliable and sustainable for them to be successful, and working closely with local businesses and the community is crucial to advancing the energy transformation in Coventry.
“Our goal is to engage with as many local stakeholders as possible to see how we can collaborate to help bring the benefits of sustainable energy to everyone, and it was great to be able to share that message and showcase our work so far with such a fantastic network of organisations operating in the region.”
E.ON has been based in Westwood Way in Coventry for over 30 years, and supplies energy to nearly one in seven households and businesses in the UK. It is also amongst the country’s largest installers of low carbon solutions such as solar panels, heat pumps and electric vehicle chargers.
The 15-year partnership is helping to introduce low carbon solutions across the city, including initiatives to help make homes more energy efficient and establish new renewable energy sources.
Further speakers at the event were Pro-Vice Chancellor of Coventry University Group Clive Winters, who spoke about the challenges and opportunities facing the higher education sector, and Paul Thandi, former CEO of NEC Group, who spoke about his business journey and the importance of a strong company culture.
Craig Humphrey, CEO of CW Growth Hub Group, of which Champions is a part, said: “We’d like to thank everyone who joined us for another fantastic event, including a number of new additions to our constantly growing network of Champions.
“Our guest speakers provided a timely reminder that the togetherness and spirit of collaboration our region is known for will be incredibly important to our collective success in the future, whether that’s in the education sector or in the pursuit of vital net zero targets.”
The next CW Champions Breakfast Meeting will be held at Manufacturing Technology Centre on Wednesday, May 28.
For more information visit https://cwgrowthhub.co.uk/events
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